NAIROBI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya athletes will be keen to details when competing at Sunday's Tokyo Marathon as they believe it will serve as a dry run for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Leading the pack is defending champion Dickson Chumba, who seeks to become the first man to successfully defend the Tokyo Marathon title.
However, for former Chicago Marathon winner Florence Kiplagat, the race in the Japanese capital offers her the realistic stage to clinch her first win in almost three years.
Others in the Kenya team, which departed on Thursday, include Gold Coast Marathon champion Ruth Chebitok, Joan Chelimo who is debut, Norbert Kigen, former Amsterdam silver medalist and Gideon Kipketer, second in Tokyo in 2017.
"We have special demand from our coach to be careful with the course and the experience because with the Olympic Games up next in 2020, this may be just the ticket to make the Kenya team," said Kiplagat, on Thursday in Nairobi.
Kiplagat has never been to the Olympics despite her dominance in the long distance races. Now she says she will sacrifice all to make the team to Tokyo 2020, which is likely to be her final shot on wearing Kenya team jersey.
"I have returned to fitness and my focus is on Tokyo Olympics. That is why I selected it as a trial run this year. I really want to see what happens in Olympic Games and I will be working hard in the remaining months so that I can get selected to represent my country next year," she said.
On her return from injury last year, Kiplagat held firm to finish fourth in Chicago, but it is the prospects of her maiden show in Tokyo that is exciting her.
"I feel that it is right to conquer new worlds and courses. It's my first time in Tokyo and am ready for the cold winter. The plan is to return to the podium, but should it fall within my stride, the gold medal will be appreciated," she added.
Ethiopia women Aga Ruti, Feyse Tadese, Yebrgual Melese, Belete Mimi and Bahrain's world marathon champion Rose Chelimo will offer strong challenge to Kenyan team.
